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Prudence (Unknown) Thames (abt. 1705 - abt. 1761)

Prudence Thames formerly [surname unknown]
Born about in Virginiamap [uncertain]
Daughter of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Wife of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died about at about age 56 in Bladen County, North Carolinamap [uncertain]
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Profile last modified | Created 8 Nov 2018
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Contents

Research Notes

Research Notes by Rebecca Thames-Simmons 2022-09-01

Refer to new information found regarding Thomas Thames who died 1758 in Bladen County.

In light of this new information, consideration should be given to the possibility that Prudence was not Thomas's first wife nor the mother of all of his children. The one and only reference to Prudence Thames is in Thomas's will.

Consideration also should be given to the possibility that Prudence remarried after Thomas's death, possibly to Isaac Cooper. By 16 Feb 1765, Isaac had a wife named Prudence, and they lived in Bladen/Cumberland. They may have migrated to SC and GA, as can be found on ancestry.com in the collections entitled U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, but further research is needed to verify this information.[5] and in Hinshaw's Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Volumes 1-6[6]

Land transactions involving Isaac and wife Prudence are:

1. 16 Feb 1765 - Cumberland Co NC Deed Book 2 p 479, two parcels of land totalling 400 acres on the Cape Fear River, Isaac Cooper and Prudence his wife, of Cumberland, to Silvanus Wilson[1]

2. 16 May 1765 - Cumberland Co NC Deed Book 2 p 489, 200 acres on Cross Creek, Isaac Cooper and Prudence his wife, of Cumberland, to James Dyer[2]

3. 7 Apr 1767 - Cumberland Co NC Deed Book 6 p 44, 70+ acres on the NorthWest River (Cape Fear River) about 2 miles above Rockfish Creek, Isaac Cooper and Prudence his wife, of Cumberland, to David Porter. This deed was not proved in court until 1773.[3]

4. 7 Nov 1768 - Bladen Co NC Deed Book 23 p 163, 56 acres on the NW river, Isaac Cooper and Prudence his wife, of Bladen, to Jesse Newbury. This deed was not proven in court until 1771.[4]

End Research Notes by Rebecca Thames-Simmons 2022-09-01

Biography

[5]

Prudence (?)1 F, (circa 1710 - circa 1760)

Ancestry Unknown* Information about the ancestry and siblings of Prudence (?) i . Birth*circa 1710 She was born circa 1710.1 Marriage*circa 1728 She married Thomas Thames circa 1728.1 Married Name circa 1728 As of circa 1728, her married name was Thames.

1 Relocation*circa 1749 She, as a family member, accompanied Prudence (?) in relocating circa 1749 at Bladen Co., North Carolina; Thomas & Prudence Thames with their family came to Bladen Co. from Craven Co. NC by 1750 and bought land there. There is a court record of Thomas Thems in Craven Co. as late as 1748.1

 (Heir) Will 6 May 1758 Prudence and Joseph named as heir(s) in the will of Thomas Thames at Bladen Co., North Carolina, on 6 May 1758.1 Death*circa 1760 She died at Bladen Co., North Carolina, circa 1760.1

Family Husband Thomas Thames (circa 1710 - after 6 March 1758)

Children

Priscilla Thames1 (say 1729 - ) Cornelius Thames1 (say 1730 - say 1760) Joseph Thames+1 (1732 - 1780) Marcy Thames1 (say 1734 - 1816) Phebe Thames1 (say 1735 - ) Elizabeth Thames1 (say 1737 - ) Amos Thames1 (say 1743 - ) Thomas Thames1 (say 1745 - ) John Thames1 (say 1747 - ) Samuel Thames1 (say 1749 - before 1764)

Most of what follows was compiled by Walt and Maxine Gabennesch:

It appears that the Thames possibly entered NC by way of Chowan or Albemarle County, in the northeastern corner of the state, depending on the year they arrived in NC. If I assume that then I have to assume they came in from VA, as I said, I don’t think that can be documented.

I have no idea who the father of Thomas Thames was or where Thomas Thames the husband of Prudence was born. I don't know anything about Prudence, except that she was a Quaker. I do not know from whence they came VA, England or etc. I have never seen a record indicating the place of birth of either Thomas or Prudence. Only a lot of speculation, no documented record. There is no footprint from anywhere into NC for Thomas and Prudence that I have ever seen.

The Last will and testament of John Tims written July 30, 1774; Recorded: Bute Co. August Court 1774 Heirs wife Susanna Tims and daughter Ann Tims; Executor Chrles Allen I can’t identify this person. This will was found by Bill Fields in the year 1999 and I just wanted to show a family of this name was on the NC – VA border.

Bute County was formed in 1764 from Granville Co. that was formed in 1746 from Edgecombe Co. that was formed in 1741 from Bertie Co. that was formed in 1722 from Chowan Co. that was formed in 1664 from Albemarle County. Albemarle was an original county and was abolished in 1739.Bute County was abolished in 1779.

Craven Co. Deed Abstract – September 10, 1741 William Carruthers sells to Walter Morgin a tract of 75 acres in the fork of Bryan’s Creek. (Thomas Thomes and William Fips, witnesses) B2.

Craven Co. Deed Abstract – September 10, 1741 William Carruthers sells to Thomas Thimes a tract of 80 acres on the east side of head of Browns Creek. (William Fips and Walter Morgan witnesses) B2.

Craven Co. NC County Court Minutes (Court of Pleas and Quarter Session) 1742 – 1748 – Book III—644 – 44 At a Court of Common Pleas begun & held at New Bern the Third Tuesday in June 1748 being the 21st day of sd Month, Present: The Worshipfull John Carruthers, Francis Stringer, James Mackelwean, Gent. The Grand Jury was called & there appeared as follows Vizt. Then follows the listing of seventeen names one of those names being that of "Thos. Thems”.

In 1758 at the time of his death in Bladen Co. Thomas Thames stated in his Will that he owned 100 acres in Craven Co. on Flat Swamp. He left this land to his son Thomas Thames.

Craven County was formed in 1705 from Bath Co. that was formed in 1696 as an original county. Bath Co. was abolished in 1739. In 1712, Indians destroyed the records of Craven County.

“ENCYCLOPEDIA OF QUAKER GENEALOGY” By William Wade Hinshaw – Volume I containing every item of genealogical value found in all RECORDS AND MINUTES OF THE THIRTY – THREE OLDEST MEETINGS which belong, or ever belonged, to the NORTH CAROLINA YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS (whose records are known to be still in existence).Published in 1969

CORE SOUND MONTHLY MEETING—Carteret County, North Carolina Core Sound Meeting was located in Carteret County, North Carolina, about six miles north of the town of Beaufort. The jurisdiction of Core Sound Monthly Meeting extended over a wide area, including Clubs Foot Meeting in Craven County, Mattamusket Meeting in Hyde County and Upper and Lower Trent Meetings in Jones County.

Carteret County was formed in 1722 from Craven Co. that was formed from Bath County. Bath County was an original County and was abolished in 1739.

Core Sound Meeting Society of Friends, Core Sound Monthly Meeting page 276 Thems, 1738, 10, __ Marcy’s cert read in mtg.

Again it was William C. Fields III in 1999 that discovered the name on the will of Thomas Thames was Marcy. Marcy Thems was the daughter of Thomas & Prudence Thems and is named in the 1758 Bladen Co. Will of Thomas. Her name has been misread in Will abstracts as Mary, Martha, Marshea and even Nancy. You must get a microfilm copy of the Will from the Archives in NC the abstracts aren’t accurate. Marcy Thames married James Jackson of this often-quoted deed Bladen Co. DB 23, pg 339 – 29 Oct 1768 – James Jackson & wife Marshea of Cumberland to William Maultsby, Carpenter, for etc. Marshea is Marcy Thames Jackson the daughter of Thomas Thames. James Jackson and his wife both left wills.

By 1738 the Thames family of Thomas were well south into NC. They probably were roughly a little south and west of present day New Bern, NC. New Bern was the city that eventually housed the Kings Governor.

All of the grandchildren of Thomas and Prudence Thames were born in Bladen Co. NC. Why? Because the first born grandson was Jesse and he was born in about the year 1754.His mother Martha (Newberry) Thames was from a well know Bladen/Cumberland County family that was in Bladen Co. by the late 1730's.Cornelius Thames the oldest son of Thomas and Prudence married Mary Evans a member of another well known Bladen/Cumberland Co. family that went there in 1735/36 from Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Their two children were born in the later 1750's.

Marcy Thames Jackson and Priscilla Thames Dunn married into local Bladen Co. families.

The Evans & Newberry families became residents of Cumberland Co. in 1754, at the time of the creation of Cumberland Co. from Bladen County.

Cumberland Co. NC was formed from Bladen Co. in 1754. Bladen Co. was formed from New Hanover Co. that was formed in 1729 from Craven Co. that was formed in 1705 from Bath Co. that was formed in 1696 as an original county. Bath County was abolished in 1739.

Only the northern portion of Bladen County was taken in 1754 to create Cumberland County. Another annexation took place in 1764 of Bladen Co. land to add to the southern portion of Cumberland Co. The Thames lived in and the Cape Fear Baptist Church was located in Bladen County until the third annexation took place in 1789.It was in the year 1790 that the Thames' were no longer officially a part of Bladen County. They appeared on the 1790 Census as residents of Cumberland County.

Everyone has seen this deed. It is how we prove the arrival of Thomas Thames in Bladen County. So he was there by 12 June 1750. His son Cornelius witnessed the deed so was at least fourteen years of age. The legal age for a male to witness a document. It is based on this document that I assume Cornelius was the oldest son of Thomas and Prudence.

Pp. 183-184: 12 June 1750, Robert Dunn of Bladen Co., planter, to Thomas Thumbs of same, for L100...land on NW river of Cape fear a small distance below Duns Creek, part of a grant to John Dunn, conveyed to Richard Dunn and by Richard Dunn to sd Robert Dunn, 100 A...Robert Dunn (Seal). Wit: Richard Dunn, Cornelius Thims. Ack in open court June 1750 by Robert Dunn. Registered in the Registers office Book C Folo. 134. July 4th 1750. Thos. Robeson, Regr.

The above land that is mentioned in this deed became a part of Cumberland Co. when it was annexed from Bladen Co. in 1789.

The first time a deed appears in Cumberland Co. that includes the name of Joseph Thames is in Deed Book 1 page 356 and is dated 19 August 1760.John Newberry , of Cumberland, millwright, to Joseph Themes & Peter Lord, of Bladen, deed of gift to his sons-in-law, a tract of land & 1/2 of a sawmill on Cross Creek, etc.

Therefore according to this deed Joseph Themes (Thames) lived in Bladen County, but also owned property in Cumberland County. Cross Creek was where the town or village of Cross Creek stood and it eventually became Fayetteville NC.

To allude to one county and not the other when discussing this family makes it very difficult. They were residents of Bladen County for forty years. And owned property in both counties during that period of time. They served in the Bladen County Militia during the Revolutionary War. The Cape Fear Baptist Church was originally located in Bladen County. The Beaver Dam Church was further southeast in Bladen County and may be still, I am not sure. The family has forty years of history in Bladen County. Yet the family reached it zenith, or period of highest acclaim, as citizens of Cumberland County. The brothers Jesse, Reverend William, Joseph (about 1/3 of Joseph’s estate was located in Bladen Co. at the time of his death in 1819) and John Thames died in Cumberland County, as did their mother Martha (Newberry) Thames. Joseph and John Thames served as State Representatives from Cumberland County. The Reverend William became the noted Baptist Preacher he was after 1790. Stephen Gilmore the son-in-law of Joseph Thames was the sheriff of Cumberland Co. during the very early 1800’s from about 1803/4 to about 1815. Gilmore’s position was probably brought about by the influence of the Thames and related families. Gilmore in turn helped the Thames in some ways by using his authority as sheriff.

Martha (Newberry) Thames was the head of the Thames Family from the day she married Joseph Thames in about 1753/54 until her death in 1815.

Information on the county formations was taken from “NORTH CAROLINA RESEACH”, Genealogy and Local History, Second Edition, Helen F. M. Leary, C.G., F.A.S.G. editor

Sources

  1. Cumberland Co NC Deed Book 2 p 479[1]
  2. Cumberland Co NC Deed Book 2 p 489[2]
  3. Cumberland Co NC Deed Book 6 p 44[3]
  4. Bladen Co NC Deed Book 23 p 163[4]
  5. Entered by Amanda Thompson, Jun 14, 2012
  • from my FamilySearch.Org site
  • Amanda Thompson, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Amanda and others.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Barbara Corley for creating WikiTree profile Thames-116 through the import of export-BloodTree.ged on May 12, 2013.





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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Prudence by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Prudence:

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Comments: 5

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I have no interest in either profile. I look for possible duplicates and propose merges. Something in one or both of the profiles led me to believe that her LNAB was West. Since the merge has been completed, I can't tell you what the was. I count on the profile managers to review the proposal and approve or reject it.
posted on West-15227 (merged) by Joel Bridgham
Thames-116 and West-15227 appear to represent the same person because: Thames-116's birth date is approximate. "Thames" is her married name. "West" is her LNAB.
posted on West-15227 (merged) by Joel Bridgham
What is the proof of her maiden name being "West". I'd really like to know and a legitimate source should cited.
posted on West-15227 (merged) by Becky (Thames) Thames-Simmons
Unknown-159680 and West-15227 appear to represent the same person because: Both birth dates are approximate. LNAB is now known to be "West."
posted on West-15227 (merged) by Joel Bridgham
Hi! Can you cite the source for her maiden name being West? Thanks.
posted on West-15227 (merged) by Becky (Thames) Thames-Simmons

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